GIG June 2019

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GrosseIleGrand.com

June 8 - July 10, 2019

Hello Summer, my old friend!

The community of Grosse Ile kicked off the unofficial start of Summer with its annual IslandFest the weekend of May 31-June 2 and there was plenty of food, fun and good times for residents of all ages.

Despite some heavy weather that moved in on Saturday afternoon, most of the weekend just right for enjoying the fair.

Photographer Larry Caruso took in the sights and you can see his photos on Page 3.

Photo by Larry Caruso

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Page 2 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

In 2019 Leo Stevenson has been recognized by:

Honored to support the Grosse Ile Educational Foundation for the past decade.

2019.

2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 3

As you can see by the smiling faces on this page, the 2019 Grosse Ile IslandFest was a rousing success. Visitors came out and enjoyed fair food, carnival rides, helicopter rides, fireworks and more. There was some rain (what’s new this year?), but that hardly dampened anyone’s fun. With 2019 in the books, all that’s left to say is,

“enjoy the summer and see you in 2020.”

Another successful

Islandfest!

Photos by Larry Caruso

Page 4 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 5

Off to the Races

Grosse Ile Education Foundation fundraiser surpasses goal It has become “the” social event of the season.

Grosse Ile glitterati gather to see and be seen.

Men dressed to the nines with more colors and bow ties than a Chevy sales lot. Sophisticated ladies, in the latest haute couture, wearing Derby fascinators, sipping cosmos or juleps, awkwardly trying to give hugs, literally, without a drop of the hat.

And for the second year in a row, the Grosse Ile Education Foundation’s “Derby Day,”

By Bill Stevenson held at the Grosse Ile Golf and Country Club the weekend before the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby, lived up to its promise and anticipation.

This year the GIEF partnered with the Grosse Ile Music Boosters in hosting the Derby Day, “Race for Music 2019” with the goal to raise $100,000 for the Grosse Ile Township Schools music program in grades, Pre-K to 12. As monies were still coming in, it looks like the partnership hit the trifecta.

Grosse Ile Educational Foundation President Kurt Kobiljak was singing the praises of all those who made the event such a huge success. “To date, it is by far the most successful fundraiser the Foundation has ever held,” said Kobiljak. “More importantly, the ability to work with the Andrew Johnson and the Grosse Ile Music Booster Board, the District’s music teachers, and evidence the number of our community members who supported the event is simply tremendous.”

Hundreds of donors and volunteers donated their time, treasure, and talents to a cause much greater than the silent auction, raffles, and video horse races.

But, just like the Kentucky Derby, this was a party worth ponying up. Sponsors could pay to name a horse in ten different races, or be even more generous benefactors in an ascending hierarchy of sponsorship opportunities.

This year’s Signature Sponsor was in Memory of Betty Blazok, long time Grosse Ile teacher and counselor who was passionate about education and touched the lives of countless students.

Betty loved music and was a talented singer with the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church Choir.

Before the evening even began, Grosse Ile staff members, students, and parents created Derby-worthy hats that were auctioned off as a pre-event fundraiser, using ClickBid, a mobile cell phone app. GIEF Board members Jackie DeSana and Krissy Kobiljak saw the application, and realized the coolness factor in setting up bidding on the foundation’s silent auction. It was slick, and with just a click, placed your bid. You could see your rivals’ wagers through all the bids.

Partygoers could view the auction items prior the event or see them on display during the event, while

Photo by Dave Gorgon

Kurt Kobiljak, president of Grosse Ile Educational Foundation, and his wife Krissy at the fundraiser.

noshing on hors d’oeuvres, or later partaking the strolling dinner. In addition to the artistic chapeaus, and more than fifty valued auction items, featured auction items included a Park City, Utah Getaway, Detroit Red Wings Loge Box, Gourmet Dinner for 12, a Man Cave including leather recliner from McLaughlins, Four Hour Service in GoBig MultiMedia Limo, and priceless GI Nostalgia of a Band uniform pillow and a 1911 Building brick.

As guests entered the ballroom, old friends exchanged endearments, and new friends were made, sharing the same spirit of fun and excitement. School Board President Frank “Scooter” DeMare was in the Derby mode, dressed as both jockey and horse, ambling amongst the crowd.

GIEF member Dennis Reno was the master Master of Ceremonies, sporting a red blazer right out of Churchill Downs. Hourly raffles included a Fly-Over of Grosse Ile, a Limited edition Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon and Derby display, Two MGM gift certificates worth $300 each, and the $2500 Grand Prize raffle to end the evening.

But in between, there were the races. You could only place your bet on WIN, with no Place or Show. And just like the Triple Crown stakes or old Northville or Hazel Park raceways, the bell rings, the gate opens, the rhythm of drumming hooves begins. The race caller echoes over the track. The crowd yelling at every turn, waving imaginary crops, whipping themselves into a froth and frenzy.

The noise level rises in both the Mansion and the Infield. “And here they come in to the stretch” The finish. Jubilant or dejected bettors, cheer or curse, clutching or dashing their pari-mutuel tickets. Such excitement, such exuberance. And, the amazing thing—fans got excited watching a big screen video of a horse race. Such is the power of winning and the sport of kings.

And speaking of winning, the big payout goes to Grosse Ile music students in the form of grants to each grade level. At the high school and middle school levels, new musical instruments will be purchased to replace those that were in disrepair and almost 40 years old. Additionally, money will be provided for professional development for both the band and vocal music programs, with professional clinicians and music specialists working with students and staff alike. Students may come to appreciate why Maestros Nate Bearinger and Adam Hendry recently have a penchant for seersucker and bow ties, as well as the persistent hint of mint when they conduct the band.

At the elementary level, in grades pre-K to 5, the focus will be on modernization of the music program.

Chromebooks or I-Pads will be purchased with music apps, as well as the Quaver Music software which can be used in grades K-8 to individualize each artistic focus—creating, performing, responding, and connecting music for each grade level.

Elementary Music teacher, Sabrina Gurney stated, “We are super excited about the grant from the GIEF and Music Boosters. In addition to the technology programs to advance our music education, we will be able to purchase sand blocks, rhythm bones, hand signs, resonator bells, and roll up drum sets, as well as ukuleles and bucket drums for the upper elementary students.”

“We are very pleased to be able to enhance music instruction for children with sensory sensitivities.

Body socks, octobans, and large sensory pillows will be used to improve tactile and auditory integration throughout the curriculum. The entire music program is so grateful for such a wonderful outpouring of support,” Guerney said. “Everyone was very impressed with how well the GIEF and Music Boosters ran the 2nd annual Derby Day. We are so thankful to all our patrons and sponsors.”

Perhaps, young music students will learn to play First Call or Call to the Post, progressing to that old Stephen Foster favorite, My Old Grosse Ile, er, Kentucky Home. That sweet sound of success.

If you are still interested in donating to the Derby Day: Race for Music, 2019, you may send checks to Grosse Ile Educational Foundation P.O. Box 34 Grosse Ile, MI 48138 or visit their website @ grosseileeducationalfoundation.org to make a secure donation.

Page 6 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

THREE STORES IN ONE! Ask Marie Pucak how she happened to become the owner of Grosse Ile Pet & Garden Center and she will tell you that while owning a store such as this was not something she planned, it now appears undeniable that this is where she belongs.

After a high-profile and successful career in the corporate world of the Cleveland, Ohio area, Marie Pucak relocated to Grosse Ile when her husband Rick was offered a promotion in the Detroit area. Literally left on an Island where she didn’t know anyone, she accepted a part-time job working for the Grosse Ile Marketplace in 2014.

“They needed my help, and I needed them. God put me where I needed to be,” Marie quipped.

In May of 2016, Marie purchased the business from the previous owners and will be celebrating her second full year of ownership this month. “I never expected to fall in love with being a store owner, but now I can’t imagine my life any different”, she said.

Asked what sets her garden & pet supply apart from other comparable businesses, Marie was quick to say that their customer service is second to none. If we don’t carry an item that a customer wants, we will try to arrange to stock it. And my staff treats everyone who comes in here like family.

We really have three different businesses operating under the same roof. Our pet food and supply segment, our huge garden center and our recently expanded gift section.

Come in and visit us soon!

Attention car lovers:

Our garden center offers award-winning plants and first rate variety to ensure your garden looks its best.

History on wheels

By Gail Albin I think most people remember quite well each car their family ever owned.

Teens starting out, earning a driver’s license, driving alone, is a big step towards maturity.

Cars that are stylish and well maintained are a big source of pride. Probably many people judge the success of others by the shiny expensive car they drive. Perhaps the best loved cars are the reliable, comfortable, easy to drive and maintain worker car where the gadgets work all the time.

For the next several months, Gearheads Custom and Classic LLC is sponsoring History on Wheels.

These events take place on the grounds of Waters Edge at Grosse Ile

Recreation Department.

The remaining dates are June 18, July 23, and August 20. Each date is the third Tuesday of the month.

Registration for each date starts at 5 p.m. and judging commences after 6 p.m.

I enjoyed meeting many car owners and appreciate their information.

Thank you to Bob Firmstone for the suggestion, information and courtesy.

It was nice meeting Bud Ransford and Jim Bryan and many others.

Come and watch, or better yet, enter your car in the contest if you feel it is unique or has an interesting history.

There is more information available from the Recreation Department.

! n o ti c e l e s e g r a l a e v We ha Hanging Baskets Annuals • rennials Patio Pots • Pe

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 7

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Summer is back – hopefully when you are reading this the incessant rains that pretty much flooded out our spring will have ended and we can finally dry out.

Our Island drains well so we were spared the damaging floods that lead to extensive property damage and the declaration of

By Brian Loftus an emergency in several neighboring communities.

I do have a request – while you are doing your routine yard work, mowing, trimming, etc. please take a few extra minutes to clear any catch basins or culverts. Blockage of these gravity powered drains has led to some ‘ponding’ that could lead to water incursions into basements and foundations.

As most of you did not watch waters rising in your yards, you were not concerned with procuring sandbags. Lorinda Beneteau, our Department of Public Services Director and a DPS employee for 25 years, was very busy in her final weeks of duty because when it became obvious that there was a need, she responded.

After only a few phone calls, Derek Thiel, our incoming DPS Director, had located some surplus bags in a neighboring community, Lorinda arranged for their delivery, Chief Warnick offered some space to distribute the bags and Jon Keim acquired several yards of sand.

Overall, we issued approximately 300 sandbags, unfortunately too late for some properties but a better result for many others. Thanks to all for making this possible and best wishes, Lorinda, for a happy, stress-free retirement.

While I’m on the subject of high water, this season’s exceptionally high lake levels are rivalling historic records. I’m asking all boaters to keep their wakes to an absolute minimum within 500 feet of shore to prevent more damage and erosion to our waterfront properties.

More DPS news: Our bridges. With a new engineering director and much

investigation of impacted utilities the repair of the Meso Island bridge has been delayed for several months; now expected to begin this fall with completion early in 2020. The bridge will be replaced one lane at a time, so traffic will be impacted and delays can be expected.

The pier repairs to the Grosse Ile parkway bridge have also been delayed until this fall with more inspections continuing in the interim.

As always, subject to change, but currently no long term closures of the Parkway bridge are forecast.

Any developments will be posted on Connect and GrosseIle.com.

And now, some less stressful thoughts - why did we move here in the first place?

Aside from good schools and no crime, the natural beauty of our Island separates us from anywhere else in the region, so I have several recommendations for kid-friendly destinations.

The Gibraltar Bay Unit of the International Wildlife Refuge, now open sunrise to sunset thanks to the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, is a must visit. Many of you are aware that this was a former Nike Air Defense site, now it has been remediated back to its original condition, a peaceful meadow. I recommend as close to sunrise as possible, that is when the wildlife is most active and the songbirds are almost deafening.

You will have to work hard not to see all sorts of birds, waterfowl, deer and other natural inhabitants if you walk slowly and peacefully on the somewhat groomed trails. Bring binoculars if you have them.

Another choice is Sunrise Park, thanks again to the GINLC, our only public waterfront but somewhat inundated by the high lake levels. Still very quiet and natural, try to imagine the railroad bridge that continued over to Stony Island a century ago. (If you drive, please park in the gravel lot behind the Customs House).

Centennial Farm has a number of attractions, some requiring a little effort. The playground is getting SEE RAINS, Page 20

Page 8 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

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June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 9

LISTENING IN ON THE ISLAND

Remodeling whiz back on the job When Jack and I bought our home on Hickory Circle in 1972 from Bill and Mary Fleming, we hired John Filkins to build us some more kitchen cabinets.

(John was the art teacher at Carlson High School in Gibraltar,

By Pamela A. Frucci but jobbed out in the summer months building and remodeling houses).

He brought his artistic talent to his summer jobs. John not only built the kitchen cabinets, but he knocked down walls and opened up our kitchen and family room to one larger room and took our back porch and made it into a year-round room (It was our son Jay’s bedroom and later where we were able to host two Chinese exchange students in 2011 and 2013).

When our daughter Marti surprised us at Thanksgiving time by buying a home on East River Road as an investment, we decided to relocate there, pay our daughter rent 19 houses down from where we rented an upstairs apartment from 1962-72.

That meant we had to get our previous home on Hickory ready for the market.

Whom did we hire but John Filkins!

Now 45 years later John, who’s retired from teaching, is still working on remodeling homes. He took a look at our house and advised us to update it from the 70s.

What he accomplished is a freshly painted, updated ranch with brand new carpeting, stripped wallpaper and has it looking more like a current buyer might want to move in.

Our realtor is Lori Will, who happened to sell Marti her home on East River and in the past sold our son Jay and

Grosse Ile’s Adam Coolsaet, a professional drummer, brought his musical talents and percussion equipment to Harms School in Detroit to teach and entertain the kids.

wife Lisa their home on Gage.

(Lori and her husband Ed both graduated with Jay and Lisa from GIHS in 1987.)

SAINT JOSEPH REALLY HELPS SELL A HOME I had never heard of this gimmick, but I’ve heard two testimonies that it really works!

There’s an interesting tradition that if you bury a small replica of St. Joseph in the grounds of a home you wish to sell, you’ll get a buyer real quick.

The lady who sold Marti her home on East River stopped by the other day to retrieve the St. Joseph she’d buried on her property. Her house sold almost immediately. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember where she’d buried it. Our handyman Jim Becker also endorsed the practice of burying St. Joseph on the grounds of a home you want to sell.

He did it in his former home in Hawaii and it worked.

GROSSE ILE VOLUNTEER TUTORS FINISH THE YEAR WITH A FLOURISH After a school year tutoring first, second and third graders at Harms School in SW Detroit, about 25 volunteers finished

their volunteer work with a farewell party on May 20.

Following their work with the kids on homework, the tutors and the kids had a fun project to make visors for sunny weather each hand painted with a fancy calligraphy name of each student done by a retired art teacher who learned his craft while attending an art class at Wayne State University.

The kids took the visors and could decorate them with colorful stickers. Then followed a musical break by Adam Coolsaet, a regular tutor who had been living and working in South Africa as a professional drummer and is now back on Grosse Ile staying with his parents. (His grandmother Diane Ledbetter is pleased he’s back!)

Adam brought along his many percussion instruments and was willing to share them with the young people gathered around him. He’d play rhythm and lent the kids tambourines, bells, etc. to play along. He even let them play on his drum set. After the musical session, the kids were treated to fruit juice and snacks. A fitting finale to tutoring at Hams School.

Marianne Peters, who lives

on Meridian Road, was part of a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Harms School.

She and her mother both attended the school and she personally knew Fred Harms, whom the school was named for.

She spoke at the celebration of their centennial year about how Mr. Harms would have her sit on his porch and teach her all about gardening since he had a beautiful garden. When Marianne told the tutors how Mr. Harms loved flowering trees, they bought a flowering crab tree and had it planted on the grounds of the school.

I told her that there’s a movement to change the name of the school from Harms to a Spanish name since so many of the local residents are Spanish speaking. Surprisingly enough, she wasn’t upset by the prospect. She commented that, “We have to change with the times!”

LOCAL AUTHOR JEFF CARDUCCI HAS WRITTEN CHILDREN’S BOOKS I was loaned a book by Lori Dubiel, the cable TV techie who works at the township hall.

It was a children’s book about a dog named Pork Chop authored

by Jeff Carducci, a Grosse Ile resident.

Lori thought I should know about him. Although I’ve lived on the Island for 87 years, I had never run into Jeff. I found his name in the Rotary Book and gave him a call. It turns out he’s written several books about his dog and would be interested in joining our Creative Writing Club.

Hearing that, I invited Jeff to our next meeting. Thanks to Chad Novak, who lives in the Olds Estate, we’ve been invited to meet there for lunch on June 17 so we can join Phyllis Gillan, whose son Barry owns the mansion and his mother has an apartment there. Phyllis, an artist, is mostly confined to her home and enjoys company.

She will be included in the CWC meeting and was invited to also write the “prompt” for June: “Is art just for artists or for everybody?”

WHO DREAMS UP THE INSERTED MESSAGES IN CHINESE FORTUNE COOKIES? The other day Jack and I had dinner at the Hoy Pan restaurant on Macomb Street.

We enjoy their Chinese food and I look forward to the fortune cookie following our meal. I liked the latest one: “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

ARE AUTONOMOUS CARS IN OUR FUTURE? Out of the blue, Jack and I got an invitation to go to Cobo Hall and test ride an autonomous car. We reported to the roof of Cobo Hall April 5.

At first we thought the ride would be on the busy streets in Detroit, but we merely rode around a lower hall, where the auto show takes place, with a driver (just in case.) They told us these cars will be the wave of the future.

Page 10 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Watson Engineering and Racing pushing the limits

Still exceeding expectations You drive past the warehouses in the Industrial Parkway with the brown and tan facades, and notice they all look alike. There’s not much traffic, so your eye catches a place frozen in time—a motel, whose worn, wooden Motor Lodge sign and one room dwellings conjure images from a

By Bill Stevenson bygone era. If you slow down just a bit, you notice a sleek, more modern building with well-manicured landscaping, sharp edges, and instant curb appeal. The logo on the lawn sports a wide, red “W” with the name, Watson Engineering emblazoned across the foreground.

Peeking from behind some leafy trees, you notice a WR on the front of the building.

Watson Racing. You shrug.

Maybe a different kind of motor lodge?

Who knew?

Once inside, we are introduced to Mr. Chuck Watson, Sr., a cordial, quietmannered man, dressed in blue jeans and long sleeved

Chuck Watson with his race car at his shop

t-shirt, sporting a Watson Engineering cap. Little did we know that he is the owner and founder of a multi-million dollar, metal fabrication company that has grown from a small metal parts manufacturing shop in Taylor, Michigan, to multiple factories that include three locations in Taylor, the headquarters in Brownstown, and three operations in South Carolina. His reserved demeanor heightens when he begins talking about his start.

“I was born and raised in

Detroit, just off of Trumbull Ave. My dad worked for Cadillac, so from an early age, I became interested in cars and building things. I graduated from Chadsey High School on the near west side, and went to Wolverine Trade School to learn welding.”

“I worked as a welder at Chrysler for a while, then got a job at Ford, where I worked as a skilled tradesman for nine years at the Flat Rock foundry. 1979 to 1981 was a tough time for the auto industry, nothing was

Photos by Larry Caruso

selling, so I got laid off. I was without a job for a year, and with a wife and three kids, out of necessity, I began my own one-employee business. I worked on race cars, hot rods, and fabricated headers or chassis units, and machined different parts.”

“My true love is fabricating parts,” Watson said. And while it may sound like Chuck Watson is Horatio Alger on wheels, he admits the secret to his success is “long hours and hard work.”

Couple that with love and

support from his family -wife, Fran, daughter, Debbie, and sons Chuck Jr. and David.

Chuck Jr. runs Watson Racing and David is the general manager of the manufacturing facility. Son-in-law Ken Reininger is in charge of the machine shop operation.

Strong family values and dedication to their mission, “Committed to satisfying every customer’s needs by exceeding their expectations,” might also provide insight to their success.

“The company just didn’t happen overnight, but it grew from the first major contract with Ford Motor Company in 1981 to where we are today.”

And where we are today?

According to their corporate website, Watson Engineering is a privately owned and operated company, employing close to 500 employees, with sales last year over $60 million. Watson Engineering has evolved into a full service metal fabrication manufacturer specializing in metal prototypes and production parts, as well as precision machined components, robotic welding, bent tubular products, powder coating, laser cutting, and SEE WATSON, Page 11

GROSSE ILE GRAND

WATSON

Continued from page 10 other punching, stamping, or assembly services.

Among their clients are the Big Three: Ford, GM, and Chrysler, but also Harley Davidson, Caterpillar Tractor, John Deere, General Dynamics, BMW, Michelin, and others. In addition to the automotive field, their business includes manufacturing for agriculture, construction, railroad, mass transit, recreation vehicles, and the military.

Chuck Watson adds, “Manufacturing is the backbone of what we do.”

Who knew?

When he talks about Watson Racing, another aspect of the business, Chuck’s eyes emit a steely glint, the excitement emanates from his trim chassis, and it’s as if he has nitromethane in his veins.

Working with Ford Motor Company Performance Racing Team, since 2008, Watson Racing helped develop and build the Cobra Jet and Boss 302S race cars, as well as currently building and modifying S550 Mustangs for that racing program. This year, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Cobra Jet in 1968, Watson is building 68 NHRA certified Cobras, with precision power modifications, in any color you’d like as long as it’s red or white.

Chuck Watson Jr., in charge of the racing division of the company, explains, “the Ford Assembly plant in Flat Rock supplies the unpainted body shells, then we complete the roll cage fabrication and installation, body weight reduction, chassis and performance suspension prep, lightweight bumper fabrications, computer systems, engine and powertrain installation, and dynotuning.”

“All of the 68 Mustangs we are building had been purchased within 24 hours.”

You walk through the doors of the custom shop area, and you realize you have entered hallowed

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 11

THE COMPANY JUST DIDN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT IT GREW FROM THE FIRST MAJOR CONTRACT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN 1981 TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. ground - seventh heaven for gearheads, legal speed freaks, and car junkies.

Or, maybe it’s the 7-Second Club that Chuck Sr. belongs to. Drag racing off and on since his first competition in a ’56 Chevy at Detroit Dragway, Chuck Sr. has been competing “on a serious level for the past 10 to 15 years.” He has made his name and fame on the NMCA Holley EFI Factory Super Car circuit, as well as the NHRA SAM Tech Factory Stock Shootout series, competing with his Chuck Watson Cobra Jet Mustang against Dodge, Chrysler, and Chevys class in each sanction.

And, at age 72, he still has the passion and skills to be ranked among the best in the country. He still is pushing the limits. He still loves the need for speed: the supercharged factory built cars running on 9-inch tires, the exhilaration of burnouts, wheelies, and flying down a quarter mile track in record times.

Recently, competing at the NMCA All Stars Nationals in Georgia, Chuck. hit the wall topped out at 177 mph. The left front, the left side and quarter panel of his car were destroyed. The carbon fiber hood damaged, and concrete from the wall flew into the air scoops of the 1500-plus horsepower engine.

Gary “Boogieman” Zaborowski, of Riverview, who has known Chuck Watson for 45 years and has done custom body and paintwork for countless vehicles, was called in to do the rebuild. Two weeks later, Chuck was back at it, competing at the NMCA Memphis Homecoming in Tennessee.

He set a record of 180.72 miles per hour in 7.86

seconds! As his son, Chuck Jr. modestly states with a wry smile, “We are very competitive.”

“Boogieman” proudly relates, “I gave him a 200 mph paint job, so he has more in him. I just make him shine.” He adds, “Chuck has phenomenal reaction time, not just at the [Christmas] tree, (i.e. start) but at the finish, where the real race against speed begins.”

“Chuck is always trying to get better. He never stops working. . . never stops thinking. He’s always has three things going looking ahead. It’s not time for him to quit.”

And when he’s not racing or running his business or spending time with his family and ten grandchildren, Chuck Watson might be spending time in his man caves with his car collection, which rivals Jay Leno’s.

Who knew?

The Watson stable consists of eighty-five (eightyfive!) beauties, ranging from ‘30s and ‘40s hot rods, ‘60s classics, a new Ferrari, Bentley GT. He was looking to take ownership of a brand new Ford GT, a rarity in more ways than one, with a zero to 60 capacity in 3.2 seconds. The delivery was scheduled for June 1 at Southgate Ford.

And while it looks like Chuck Watson isn’t going to slow down any time soon, he looks to a future where “with ten grandchildren, my wife and I are hoping that one or some of them will be the third generation to carry on the family business.”

With a proud legacy and tradition of exceeding expectations, now that we know, we hope so, too.

If you’d like to see Chuck Watson Sr. in drag racing action go to: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=YGAT55FzbMM. To learn more about Watson Engineering, please visit: www.watsoneng.com.

Page 12 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

Watson acquires rare Ford GT

Ford’s back to the future, now

Photo by Larry Caruso

By Bill Stevenson With a pedigree tracing back to the Ford GT40, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four consecutive times from 1966 to 1969, it seems logical that Chuck Watson Sr. would acquire the fastest production car Ford has ever built—the 2019 Ford GT. At a quiet rendezvous held June 1, 2019 at Southgate Ford, the engineering hypercar was the star of the show. As it slowly descended the transport vehicle, it seemed more like a scene from the 1985 hit, Back to the Future, rather than 24 Hours of Le Mans, as the small crowd that gathered collectively gasped in excitement, “oh ... my ... goodness.”

All that was missing was Doc Brown and Marty McFly.

Ford GT Concierge Delivery Specialist Bernardo Martinez handed the keys to Chuck Watson, and took extra special time and care in explaining the features of the sleek, aerodynamic beauty.

Martinez said, “Ford is only building 1,350 GT’s globally, and this will probably be the only one delivered Downriver ever. When we are at shows, the Porche and Ferrari engineers always come to us, and marvel. The GT always draws a crowd.”

According to Ford Performance engineers, the GT with a lightweight body made of carbon fibre, and aluminum subframes, the GT is the “ultimate expression of technological innovation.”

Yes, it has gullwing doors, too.

Powered by a 650 BHP 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6 engine, the street legal beast can do zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds, and hit 220-plus miles per hour. Besides engine superpower, according to Car and Driver test drivers, the steering and handling is so precise that you can “point this car in any direction, at any moment, at any speed, and it will follow along without drama or incident.”

And if it’s not enough to have the wherewithal to purchase a GT, with a sticker price of over $550,000, but you have to apply to own one, answering a battery of questions showing your Ford connections and possible Ford collections.

You also have to submit a video explaining how the super model will be used. In addition, the terms of

agreement upon delivery states the buyer of the vehicle cannot resell it for a period of two years.

With sparkle in his eyes reflective of the breathtaking liquid silver paint job on his new baby, Chuck Watson Sr. was more than elated.

“This is so special,” he said. “This car is from the Ford Carbon Series with an exposed carbon fiber stripe down the center of the car,” said Watson. “The A-pillars and lower side skirts are also exposed fiber. It has carbon fiber wheels and titanium lugnuts. They only built 35 of these.”

When asked what his future plans are for his new Ford GT, he eagerly beamed, “We’re gonna put some miles on it.”

GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 13

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High School and Middle School Bands 12 p.m.

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Page 14 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 15

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Page 16 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

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June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 17

Photos by Larry Caruso

Police Department opens its doors On May 16 the Grosse Ile Police Department opened its doors for its 2019 community open house. Residents of all ages were invited to come in, tour the facility, the patrol cars and talk to officers and look at police gear. There was also a chance to”dunk a cop,” and grab a hot dog or a burger.

Page 18 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

NOW

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 19

Here is the background of the VFW Buddy Poppy Program While looking through some old files, I came upon the May, 2017 edition of our VFW Magazine. Gracing the cover was the very lovely Hollywood actress, Doris Day, who recently passed on at the age of 97.

The photo was from the year 1950 during the years that Hollywood stars glamorized the Buddy Poppy Program. That photo prompted me to do a little research and put this

By David L. Dyer article together.

When the first shots of World War I were fired in the summer of 1914, Canada, as a member of the British Empire became involved in the war. In April of 2015 Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was stationed in the trenches near Ypres, Belgium in an area known as Flanders.

During the bloody second battle of Ypres, in the midst of the warfare, McCrae’s friend, 22-year-old Lieutenant Alexis Helmen was killed by artillery fire and buried in a makeshift grave.

The following day McCrae, after seeing the field of makeshift graves blowing with wild poppies wrote what would become the most famous war poem ever written. Here it is word for word as he wrote it: IN FLANDER’S FIELD In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below, We are the dead, Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved and now we lie, In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you, from failing hands we throw, The torch, be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us, who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders Fields The poppy soon became the flower of remembrance for the men and women in Britain, France, The United States and Canada who have died in service to their country. McCrae’s poem continues to be an important part of Remembrance Day Celebrations in Canada and Europe as well as Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day in the United States.

Our VFW Post 7310 conducts poppy sales annually.

Profits from these sales continue to increase each year.

These profits are used exclusively: l. For the aid, assistance, relief and comfort of

needy or disabled veterans or members of the Armed Forces and their dependents and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans.

2. For the maintenance and expansion of the VFW National Home and other facilities devoted exclusively to the benefit and welfare of the dependents, widows, and orphans of disabled, needy or deceased veterans or members of the Armed Forces.

3. For necessary expenses in providing entertainment, care and assistance to hospitalized veterans or members of the Armed Forces.

4. For veteran’s rehabilitation welfare and service work.

5. To perpetuate the memory of deceased veterans and members of the Armed Forces and to comfort survivors.

From its inception, the Buddy Poppy Program has helped the VFW live up to its motto, “to honor the dead by helping the living.” The Buddy Poppy – small red flower symbolic of the blood shed in World War I by millions of Allied Soldiers in defense of freedom – was originally sold to provide relief for the people of war-devastated France. Later, its sale directly benefited thousands of disabled and down-and-out American Veterans.

Page 20 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

What’s Happening Grosse Ile ...

COME VISIT Tails, Inc. will host a grand opening open house with hot dogs, games and pets for adoption on Saturday, June 15th from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The new address is 7796 Macomb Street.

Join them in celebrating the opening of their new home in the heart of Grosse Ile’s business district.

CLASS REUNION The Grosse Ile High School Class of 1973 will meet for a casual reunion on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at 6 p.m. at Smokies on the Water, 25555 West River Rd, Grosse Ile. A response is appreciated, but not required. For more information or to RSVP, call Stephanie Cobb at 734-3073593 or Mary Jo Turek Gallagher at 517-256-9615.

ROTARY CLUB GOLF The Grosse Ile Rotary Club will host ts 17th annual golf outing at West Shore Golf and Country Club on Monday, June 17.

Proceeds from the outing will be used to fund charitable organizations that the Grosse Ile Rotary supports.

The outing includes a hot dog lunch at the turn and a steak dinner at the end of play. There will also be on-course games and contests.

For information, call 734-775-5505 or email joycereedy@hotmail.com COME ON DOWN Beginning June 14 and running throughout the summer, the popular Movies on Macomb will be held at Lyons park at dusk.

In conjunction with the movies will be Meet me on Macomb, which encourages people to come out, meet, shop and play in downtown Grosse Ile. Beginning on June 6 and continuing summer sunday evenings through September are weekly concerts and the Island Market.

WATER’S EDGE GOLF It’s not too early to join a league or start your own. Contact the Water’s Edge Proshop at 734-675-0777 or email proshop@-grosseile.com.

Why not try Water’s Edge Golf Course? It is close to home, has reasonable rates, is a regulation ninehole course, and has a driving range and

putting and chipping greens. Individual and league play available.

A HELPING HAND The family of Jimmy Brock, who was injured in a serious car accident, is in need of monetary help. A friend, Connie Turner, has set up a GoFundMe page for the family.

Brock suffered traumatic brain injuries and will need lengthy intensive therapy.

If you can help, please go to gofundme.com.

YOUTH SUMMER CAMP The 2019 Summer Youth Camp is June 17 - Aug. 16 for ages 6-12 at Centennial Farm and Water’s Edge. There are arts, crafts, nature, recreational activities and the activities are available Mondays through Fridays.

Go to grosseilerecreation.com.

GROSSE ILE SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB Meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 11:30 p.m.

Refreshments followed by a short business meeting, programs, bingo. This is a social club for men and women 55 years and up living on Grosse Ile. ISLAND WALKERS Mondays through Fridays from 6:45-7:45 a.m. year round at Centennial Farm Activity Room; aerobic walking to music.

OPEN PICKLEBALL FOR ADULTS On Tuesdays and Thursdays through May at Meridian Elementary School Gym from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

SWIMMING TIME The Water’s Edge Pool is open beginning Thursday, June 13, at 1 p.m.

Sign up for swimming lessons at grosseilerecreation.com.

VOLUNTEERS The Township is always on the lookout for volunteers.

Helpers are needed for community events like the Fall Festival, Halloween Parade, Island Winterfest, Winter Olympics and the Easter event.

Volunteers are also needed as golf course rangers and workers at summer events like Safety Town and youth camps.

And, as always, volunteers are needed

to help plan, set up and clean up Island Fest.

To become involved call 734-6752364.

LIBRARY TEEN VOLUNTEERS Interested in volunteering at the library?

If you’re 14-17 yrs old, take a look through our volunteering information and fill out our application. Follow this link to the Teen Volunteer Application, fill it in and drop it off at the library’s circulation desk or email it to Amalia Ash: ataash@trenton.lib.mi.us.

Once the completed application and work permit is given to library staff, you will be contacted within five days for a volunteering opportunity. Please note that as we have a limited number of volunteer opportunities and changing library needs, we cannot guarantee a certain number of volunteer hours or immediate placement.

COME KNIT The Knitting Club of Grosse Ile meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Riverview Veterans Memorial Library. Come from some great fun, conversation and, of course, knitting Call 734-283-1250 or go to Riverviewpubliclibrary.com.

LOOKING FOR A NEW BEST FRIEND? The Grosse Ile Animal Shelter, 25799 3rd St., has dogs, cats and kittens ready for new homes. Stop by and meet your new best friend.

For shelter hours, call 469-7145.

LIBRARY Remember the Veteran’s Memorial Library in Trenton severs the community of Grosse Ile, as well at Trenton, Woodhaven and Brownstown.

The Library is committed to providing services to all patrons. Adult services include a monthly Adult Book Discussion which meets the first Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m.

We also provide beginning computer classes. The library often has special speakers or presentations including author book signings, informative presentations, and genealogy help.

There are state publications and informative flyers on local non-profit , and educational opportunities.

We also offer access to databases and the internet through free wi-fi access and

34 public computers. Copy machines and fax services are also available. DVD movie rentals are $1 each. New movies rent for three days and regular movies rent for one week.

There is also a free family movie on the second Saturday of the month. The Trenton Historical Society meets here twice a month to assist patrons with genealogy research. Used books are for sale in an ongoing book sale as well as the Friends of the Library Used Book Extravaganza in April and October.

Located on West Road, the library is open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays The library number is 734-676-9777.

COMMISSION/COMMITTEE VACANCIES Feeling civic minded? How about joining a Grosse Ile Township commission or committee? There are current vacancies on the Airport Advisory Committee, Airport Commerce Park Commission, Brownfield Authority, Construction Board of Appeals (3), Planning Commission and Island Beautification Committee.

Call 676-4422 to learn how to get an application.

RAINS

.

Continued from page 7

better thanks to our Community Recreation Department, but wander further back to the Children’s Garden, visit the animal shelter, watch the horses romp in the paddocks or take a stroll into the open space to the west.

The deer will be watching you, you’ll have to move quietly to see them.

Just a few thoughts to begin your summer. IslandFest will be behind us, Downriver’s best fireworks show will be a memory and the Fourth of July is coming soon.

Congratulations to our departing high school seniors, best of luck to all the graduates in their future endeavors and get off your parents’ payroll as soon as possible (just a suggestion).

Let me close with my best wishes for a safe, fun and somewhat drier summer on our special Island. I’ll have more to report in July but don’t hesitate to ask if something is vexing you.

GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 21

TELESCOPING THE TOWNSHIP

Thanks to Kiwanis, all-Island clean-up accomplished A turnout of 75 to 100 volunteers, who met at Northridge Church on Meridian on Sat., April 27, spent the morning aiding the Kiwanis Club’s annual All-Island Clean-up. They were treated to coffee and donuts, thanks to the church’s staff as they arrived and pizza from Little Caesars after their work, thanks to the Kiwanis

By Pamela A. Frucci Club. Many of the workers commented that “The Island is cleaner than last year! The Kiwanis Club has been offering this service of keeping the Island clean for almost 40 years.

NEW TASTY FREEZE DRAWING CROWDS ON MACOMB STREET The new ice cream shop on Macomb has recently opened as a Tasty Freeze under the ownership of Roxanna Zubke and her daughter. It’s been a popular place to buy not only tasty freeze but real ice cream. Mrs. Zubke, the wife of the owner of Zubke Plumbing, says it’s her first venture into ice cream although she’s owned other businesses. She reports that “business has been good despite the weather.” The newly redecorated shop that had been a bank before, has colorful paintings on the windows and plenty of room on their patio to enjoy an ice cream treat outdoors. Their hours are Monday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

KEEP A POEM IN YOUR POCKET WORKSHOP DOESN’T DRAW A CROWD The Grosse Ile Alliance for the Arts has had many successful painting parties in the past but their May 4 “Keep a Poem in Your Pocket” poetry workshop didn’t draw a single participant. I was there as the member of the GIAA who had brought up the idea of doing a poetry workshop under the leadership of Pat Barnes, an established poet who had led the Creative Writing Club in a poetry workshop previously.

The workshop was there in the newly furnished lower level meeting room at the Public Service Credit Union building on Macomb. One person had responded to the invitation but said she

CVS’S REMODELED STORE A PLUS, BUT INCLUDES A BOTHERSOME FEATURE You can buy just about any item in the remodeled CVS store, but there are three features that bother me...1) The mile-long receipt that they hand me even when I buy one item 2) The robot who calls and reminds you of a prescription waiting to be picked up and pronounces Macomb Street Maycomb Street, and 3) The uncovered trash container at the entrance to the store. Why has a newly remodeled drug store still have an unattractive trash barrel out front? was unable to attend that Saturday. I was hoping for at least a small turnout.

It wasn’t wasted time, though. Patty is an old friend and we enjoyed cookies, coffee and conversation even though we had no conferees.

ISLAND BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE SET OUT SIX RECYCLING CONTAINERS AROUND THE ISLAND So that joggers, walkers, and bikers using our bike trails have a container to toss their recyclable plastic bottles and cans, the Island Beautification Committee has purchased and set out six green recycling containers near the trash barrels in strategic locations around the Island. They will be serviced as recyclables when the trash barrels are dumped.

MACOMB STREET BUSINESSES TO BE OFFERED ISLAND BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AWARDS AGAIN The Island Beautification Committee annually walks Macomb Street and notes which businesses maintain their premises attractively by planting flowers and keeping their grounds litter and weed free. In September the ones which qualify will receive an attractive decal to put in their window noting that they are “Keeping the Island Beautiful.” Past awardees will get a current date to attach to their decal. All businesses will be receiving a letter from the IBC in June encouraging them to add to the beauty of Macomb Street by complimenting the Grosse Ile Garden Club’s hanging baskets of flowers which line the street.

CANADIAN GEESE AREN’T ALL PESKY! In driving along East River Road and seeing all the Canadian geese on lawns or crossing the road, they qualify as “pesky.” But all this changed recently when I spotted a family of geese along the riverfront with a parade of cute little goslings in tow by their parents.

IS THERE A FOAM RECYCLING DROPOFF SITE IN THE FUTURE? For years I have been striving to set up a local foam recycling drop-off center after the township closed the service on the Island. Since we have family in Lansing, the Fruccis make the trip there by way of Mason where the DART facility is located. They recycle foam in their factory along with manufacturing foam products. We drop off a sack of accumulated foam there. After presenting a plea to the Downriver Community Conference (members are all the mayors and supervisors Downriver) and bringing along a huge bag of foam our family had accumulated, the mayor of Gibraltar told me he planned to provide a drop-off site near their city hall.

Mayor Gorris wasn’t able to make it happen. Last year a woman on the city council in Allen Park notified me that she was working on developing a site for foam recycling in their city.

Nothing firm yet but I’m hoping she’ll come through. In the meantime Lori Dubiel, who works as a cable techie at the township hall, handed me a big bag of foam she’d been saving in anticipation of a future drop-off center.

It’ll be added to our foam on our next trip to Lansing by way of Mason.

WANT TO GROW VEGGIES IN FERTILIZED WATER? Former neighbor on Hickory Circle, John Roos (the one who heats his home with wood he chops down and has added solar panels to his roof,) has a new project going.

He wants to grow fresh vegetables for the good health of his children, so he’s started growing them in fertilized water. So far it’s been a successful venture. He’d like to share it with others. To get in on his project give him a call at 734-286-2667 or email johnroos@gmail.com THANKS FOR THE PIZZA AND POP, DAN JASTER Thanks to Island newcomer Dan Jaster, the “Dump the Junk” volunteer workers got pizza and cold drinks.

Dan has recently joined the board of the Open Space Committee and filled the shoes of Woody Clark, longtime volunteer who used to run the Dump the Junk program for the committee.

A former marketing salesman, Dan approached both Kroger and Hungry Howies to ask them to donate food and drink for the volunteer workers. Even though, there’s never been either at past Dump the Junk weekend days at the DPS yard, this May both businesses came through.

Dan reports, since he logged in the number of residents who used the service of Dump the Junk; Find the Treasure, that 508 cars and pick-up trucks passed through the gates at the DPS yard.

An added note about Dan Jaster; He told me he’s lived in 25 different places in his lifetime but finds Grosse Ile his last and best location!

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

During the Grosse Ile Township Board regular meeting held on the night of Monday, May 13, the Township Board unanimously (6 to 0, one Trustee was absent) approved a resolution that identified very likely negative impacts to Trenton, Riverview and Grosse Ile that would be caused by the redevelopment of the McLouth Steel site as an intermodal shipping port, and asked the city of Trenton to oppose this concept, or any other, that would cause similar adverse outcomes for the region.

The Township Board Meeting was attended by an audience of more than 50 residents many of whom came to the meeting solely for the purpose of encouraging the Township Board to take a formal position on the McLouth Steel site that protects the best interest of Grosse Ile as well as neighboring communities. This was one of the largest audiences for a Township Board regular meeting in years.

While the entire Township Board voted in favor of the Resolution, remarks made by Trustee Carl Bloetscher, Trustee Jim Budny and Clerk Ute O’Connor indicated the strongest level of concerns about the McLouth Steel site causing negative impacts in the community.

It was pointed out by numerous board members that this resolution was merely a first step by the Township to inform the city of Trenton about Grosse Ile’s views on the matter, and it was essential for citizens to get involved in the process to ensure whatever is ultimately done on the property is as beneficial as possible for all affected communities.

Several citizens who spoke during the public comment period demonstrated that residents are following the situation closely, and plan to remain engaged in what will undoubtedly be a long process.

One particularly encouraging fact revealed during the public comments was that more than 200 citizens signed an online petition (just started on Monday) urging the Township Board to approve a resolution that expresses the desire to protect the community.

The discussion about the Resolution can be viewed on the Township’s online video of the Township Board

preempt local government regulatory control.

Despite winning the litigation, the RTRR did not initiate any significant clean-up or redevelopment of the property. The only clean-up effort on the site during the last 19 years was performed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the late 2000s after highly polluted water runoff from the site was going into Jefferson Avenue.

Now the RTRR is joining with Crown Enterprises to partially clean up much of the McLouth Steel site for the purpose of building a facility that will enable intermodal shipping - ships, freight trains and semi-trucks unloading cargo for transfer to another mode of transportation.

Crown Enterprise and RTRR have collectively agreed to invest at least $20 millions in partially cleaning up and redeveloping the site over a sixyear period. However, a full clean-up of the property will only be possible if the EPA Superfund Program provides very substantial funding for this activity. The McLouth Steel site was recently added to the EPA Superfund National Priorities List.

While everyone agrees that the time has come for the McLouth Steel buildings to be torn down and longstanding pollution on the site to be cleaned up, it is impossible to judge the net benefits of Crown EnterprisesRTRR’s plans to build an intermodal shipping port without considering the likely negative impacts on transportation flow (specifically the opening of the Toll Bridge for commercial marine vessels, increased freight trains blocking vehicle traffic across the region and more semitrucks clogging the roads); diminished air and water quality; and numerous other factors that affect the quality of life in Trenton, Riverview and Grosse Ile as well across Downriver.

What do citizens think? Are you pleased to see the Township Board take a strand on the McLouth Steel site? What concerns and questions do you have about the situation?

Township Board approves resolution expressing concerns about McLouth redevelopment

Meeting. The Township Board’s consideration and vote on the resolution can be watched between the 46:10 mark and 1:10:33 mark on the video while public comments start at the 2:14:22 mark and continue to adjournment: grosseile.granicus.com/ MediaPlayer.php.

Here is a copy of the resolution as approved: Whereas, the potential use and development of the former McLouth Steel site will impact the quality of life of Grosse Ile residents, and Whereas, the current property owner, Crown Enterprises, has developed a plan for an intermodal transportation on the site which could result in increased truck, train and vessel traffic in the area, and Whereas, increased truck and train traffic in the local area could negatively impact the lives of our residents through congestion and increased road damage, and Whereas, increased vessel passage on the Trenton Channel could result in more frequent closures of the Grosse Ile toll bridge to vehicular traffic and increase the potential for damage to the bridge structure which would further restrict access to Grosse Ile, now Therefore be resolved, that the Grosse Ile Township Board of Trustees hereby petitions the City of Trenton to deny any operation on the site that will adversely the air and water quality of the resident of Grosse Ile and all nearby residents of Riverview and Trenton, and Be it further resolved, that the Board of Trustees petitions the City of Trenton to consider enacting

ordinances to manage and control vehicular traffic, and to preclude unnecessary noise from cargo handling operations between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.

BACKGROUND ON MATTY MOROUN’S PLANS In September of 2017, Wayne County sold the nearly 200 acre McLouth Steel site to Matty Moroun’s company, Crown Enterprises, through a Request for Qualifications process that strongly favored an industrial redevelopment of the property.

Documents obtained by the Grosse Ile Civic Association (GICA) from Wayne County through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request show that Wayne County specifically sold the property to Crown Enterprises for the purpose of building an intermodal shipping port. We have included below Crown Enterprises’ final proposal to purchase the property which has not previously been made public nor even made available to many public officials.

This is not a new idea. In 2000, Matty Moroun’s company, the Riverview-Trenton Railroad (RTRR), took ownership of the 76 acre northern parcel of the McLouth Steel site, and proposed building an intermodal shipping port on the property. At that time, Wayne County, city of Trenton, city of Riverview, city of Wyandotte, Grosse Ile and the Downriver Community Conference were all united in their opposition to Mr. Moroun’s proposal.

Wayne County led an unsuccessful lawsuit to block the Federal government from recognizing the RTRR as a railroad with the power to

Source: Grosse Ile Civic Association

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 25

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Most indie retail people I know choose not to scream bloody murder about unfair competition, national chains and internet parasites. They choose to keep their nose to the grindstone, focused entirely on doing their jobs better, upping their game, being better every day.

That’s what I do, so much so that I

By Peter Rose wonder where I find the time to write what I write. The fact is, though, that I have this opportunity to share thoughts and opinions to residents in four local communities.

To not write would be an abdication of responsibility. I suppose you could say that someone else would pick up the sword and keep on. That would be good. But I’m not so sure, so I’ll keep writing for a while.

It took me a while to pick up this gauntlet. I was like a lobster in a boiling pot; I knew it was happening but didn’t want to really get it. Once I understood, though, I couldn’t get it out of my head.

Organizations like the American Independent Business Alliance captured my attention, providing me with a steady stream of awarenessbuilding information that ultimately led to the formation of a localism organization that will serve the entire city of Wyandotte.

That organization will do its own marketing, apart from this column.

It’s not unfair to say, though, that the entire point of my column for the last 24 months has been advocacy for local and independent businesses.

National chains have national money marketing them. They rely on the ability to gain market share through the sharing of those costs in any big market like Detroit with the other stores in their chain. They can dominate, creating top of mind awareness, while smaller businesses can do no such thing.

All “small” can do is be vastly superior to the chains that are ultimately their own worst enemy.

Creativity, energy, infinitely stronger connection to the populace they serve, all are the hallmark of small and local.

I’ve been advocating for supporting that since I started writing. Supporting

extending their reach just by having gift cards in a rack in other stores, it is not insane to believe that the edge that’s created that way could stand some push-back from someone not connected to those other local businesses, but every bit in their corner.

I believe that really, all retail has been experiential since forever. If you don’t enjoy yourself in my store, you aren’t coming back. If we fail to impress, if we are perceived as indifferent or inattentive (as I find far too often in my travels), we cause our own demise. We, then, are not the victim of the corporatism that nauseates me. Independence is passion, or it fails. So my personal advocacy for Indie is not so much for the lazy business people, but for the people that light it up, the businesses that ignite the imagination of those that find those stores.

I find passion and ignition in all manner of operations I visit, and I try to learn from it and share it when I find it. Because that passion, as powerful as it may be, needs advocacy to extend and magnify its voice.

More importantly, and tellingly: As much as I do this for those guys, the bigger truth is that I do this for me. I need my world to be populated by uniqueness, not cookie cutter sameness. And my world is everywhere I go.

It’s why I pick up trash on the sidewalks, and not just in Wyandotte.

I get to choose how my world looks, how my world acts. I want it to be prettier, I want it to be cooler. I want more resources circulating in my world, and I know that if there is any chance for that to happen, it will begin with me. It’s responsibility; it’s selfishness every bit as much.

Everything I write is an effort to get people to share this obsession. It’s not someone else’s responsibility to make indie thrive; it’s mine. It’s mine to change for the better, or worse, if I abdicate and disconnect.

My job is to get some of my readers to accept those responsibilities and connect the dots as well. So that you, too, think it’s your job to ensure that the towns you love are vibrant, clean, and compelling. Because that’s how you want YOUR world to be, too!

that energy is energizing in and of itself. It’s addictive, it’s exhilarating, it’s satisfying. And since those folks have no time to whine or be perceived as whining while Rome burns (as it

were), it has been my great pleasure in doing that work for them.

In the face of the reality that hypermarkets sell gift cards for every national chain you can imagine,

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A thriving Downriver is my responsibility

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CULINARY CAPERS The best-kept secret on Grosse Ile was Island Coney owner Valerie Gergely’s Carrot Cake recipe — until she shared it with Culinary Capers.

Valerie, who bought the eatery from her father, Bill Bernardara, in 2008, said she has been baking since she was

By Evelyn Cairns a child and makes 90 percent of the desserts served at Island Coney, including all the cakes and cookies, plus scones.

“The best part of being the ownerbaker is not having to wash the dishes and clean up,” she said.

Server Grace McGrath said the most popular dessert at Island Coney is Valerie’s Carrot Cake, which disappears in minutes when diners see it on the counter.

Other favorite cakes are Hummingbird, Lemon-Blueberry, Strawberry and Chocolate, and the most popular cookies are Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip.

Don’t let the number of ingredients deter you from baking the Coney Carrot Cake, as it is very easy to put together.

When I made the cake, I lined my 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper to make removal easier. And don’t even think about using smaller cake pans, or the batter will surely overflow.

I watched apprehensively as the batter rose to the top of my pans, but it stayed there. Don’t worry if the cake dips a bit in the center. When I told Valerie mine did, she said hers always does, too. And don’t spread too much frosting between the layers (1/4 of the frosting should be about right) or there may not be enough left for the top and sides.

ISLAND CONEY CARROT CAKE 3 large carrots shredded to make 1½ cups 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 cups sugar 1½ cups vegetable oil 4 eggs 8-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained 1 cup shredded coconut ½ cup chopped walnuts 2/3 cup raisins

FOR CAKE: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grate carrots and set aside. Butter and flour 2 9-inch cake pans. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. With electric mixer, beat together sugar, oil and eggs, then beat in flour mixture until combined. Stir in carrots, pineapple, coconut, walnuts and raisins. Pour into pans and bake 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

FOR FROSTING: 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla 2½ cups confectioner’s sugar Beat well the cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Add sugar and beat until smooth. Spread about 1/4 of the frosting between the layers and the remainder on top and sides of the cake.

FAVORITE RECIPE One of my favorite recipes is for Cucumber Blueberry Salad, which Kathy Levillier of Hickory Island shared in 2017 after she bought the salad at a New York City market and analyzed it.

With blueberries currently in abundance, I’m republishing the recipe for the enjoyment of readers of the Riverview Register, Wyandotte Warrior and Southgate Star, which were not members of the GoBig Multi-Media family in 2017. And also for Grosse Ile Grand readers who might have missed it.

COPYCAT CUCUMBER BLUEBERRY SALAD 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into ¾-inch pieces 3/4 cup blueberries ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves or 1 teaspoon dried 2 tablespoons chopped green onion tops 1/3 cup olive or cooking oil 2½ tablespoons vinegar 2 teaspoons honey or sugar Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Combine cucumber, blueberries, feta cheese, mint and onion tops. Mix oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper and add to cucumber mixture. Chill and enjoy.

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Neurofeedback is by no means a new development. In fact it has been in use for decades. I sat in a chair and a skull cap was placed on my head. I had to sit there for 14 minutes, seven with my eyes open and seven with my eyes closed. The computer simply recorded my brain wave activity.

The test called an EEG was completed and the results were compared in a database with thousands of other results. It reported different areas of my brain that were not performing as well as they should.

Next came the treatment with Neurofeedback. I watched a movie that I was able to choose. So you can watch anything you like. I had to wear glasses that look like a large pair of safety glasses; the only difference was these glasses had small flickering lights on them.

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Red Devil points of pride Editor’s Note: Many year-end school events, extracurricular events, and sports were still to be completed before this edition of The Grand went to print.

The hugs and tears of joy have commenced. Astonished parents shake their heads and wonder how their baby has grown and now is graduating, or going into middle school, or moving to the next grade level. The hopes and joys and fears of students, parents,

By Bill Stevenson and educators are stirred by the strains of Pomp and Circumstance. Another school year ends, and the reverie is pierced by car radios blasting Alice Cooper’s School’s Out. We pause to reflect and look back on the state of the school year, 20182019. Here are some highlights: At Parke Lane Elementary school which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade, in addition to laying the critical foundation for literacy, numeracy, and problem solving, new Principal Nicole Garza reports, “This year we held our annual Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser for the American Heart Association, formerly known as Jump Rope for Heart. Parke Lane’s goal for the month was to be active and raise $19,000 for this cause.

Our Young 5’s through Second Graders went well beyond this goal and raised $24,061! This accomplishment made Parke Lane the top school in the Wayne County and third in the entire state of Michigan. We are excited that our students and families take so much pride in their heart health.”

Garza continues, “We are also proud of the new Reading and Writing Workshop curriculum our teachers have implemented this year. Our students are fostering a true love for reading and writing and this is visible in every classroom, every day.”

“During a recent educational presentation offered by the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy and Lake Erie Metroparks, our students were asked to identify whether items were a want or a need. When asked about phones and toys, they all

identified them as wants. However, when asked if books were a want or a need the picture included shows our students all raising their hand identifying them as a need. When specifically asked, one student stated we need books to survive in order to learn. Although we know we can survive without them, we are excited this is how our students feel about books and reading!

“Our annual STEAM night was another huge success. Our students and families were able to make creations and enjoy learning about the scientific and engineering world together! Some of the things our students experienced

by Katherine Applegate for March is Reading Month. Additionally, we have a powerful partnership with the PAT leading to enrichment support, little libraries, and grade level field trips.

“Our First LEGO League Robotics in 4th and 5th grade shows the relevance of applied learning, and we are very thankful of the Grosse Ile Education Foundation grant funds supporting STEAM, Literacy, and K-12 Music.”

Reimann continued, “We value and are very proud of our family connections with theWatchDOG program, Literacy Night, STEAM Night, Music Concerts and the Parent

included 3D printing, renewable energy, robotics, civil engineering, and how to build a roller coaster. We are so thankful for the community who came together to present to our students.”

At Meridian Elementary, home to upper elementary grades, 3-5, Principal Joe Reimann said he is extremely proud of the work of his faculty and staff, but even more happy with the overall growth of his students.

“Our parents and staff have high expectations for all our students. We are proud of the increased rigor in ELA (English Language Arts) classrooms with the adoption of the Units of Study. We conducted a successful school-wide book read of Wishtree

Book Club. We also combined with Parke Lane to raise over $34,000 for the Kids Heart Challenge, showing our connectivity to issues beyond the four walls of the schools.”

Grosse Ile Middle School Principal Cliff Whitehouse, in his third year at GIMS, is working hard with students, staff, and parents in building a positive culture in the building. GIMS continues to follow its R.E.D Rules— Respect, Everyone Belongs, Devotion to Excellence.

The elimination of bullying, and meeting the social-emotional needs of middle school students is of paramount importance to their success. Making the transition from grade to grade, and

preparing students for the rigors of high school are top priorities.

Of particular note, the entire school community can be proud of another successful Washington, D.C. trip for the eighth grade students and their chaperones. This is the 29th year eighth graders have ventured to the nation’s capital, and other historic sites along the way.

Middle School teacher, Emily Lehmann received the Applebee’s Best Teacher Award.

The 7th grade girls’ basketball team was undefeated.

The Middle School was honored to receive a grant from the Grosse Ile Educational Foundation for the upgrade and renovation of the Library.

In their efforts to care for others, the Middle School raised over $10,000 and donated to the American Heart Association, St. Jude’s Hospital, and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

And at Grosse Ile High School, commencement exercises were held in the gymnasium on May 30, 2019. One hundred forty-one seniors walked across the stage, led by nine (9) valedictorians. In alphabetical order, they are Maham Adnan, Lillian Centlivre, Lindsey Jurecki, Molly Matthews, Lauren Naso, Jacob Sawicki, Brooke Sherer, Dakota Thompson, and Ava Thrasher. All vals maintained a 4.0 grade point average for all four years of high school.

Rounding out the Top Ten was Brett Mazany, with a 3.97 GPA. GIHS Counselor Joan Sclater praised the Class of 2019, as “another great group of kids.”

“The class received $1,841,432 in scholarships which is truly remarkable,” she said.

As GIHS athletes are still competing at state finals, and band, choir and other clubs or extracurricular activities compile their honors and accomplishments, the Grand will provide their recaps of the school year in our next addition.

Continuing the tradition of excellence, 2018-2019 was another very good school year for the Grosse Ile Township Schools. Way to show your Red Devil Pride!

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School Retrospective: It Was a Very Good Year

Page 32 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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Health Occupation students give back to local hospital The hospital’s Health Occupation students are a point of pride for Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, and with good reason.

The hospital is the location of Wyandotte Public Schools’ Health Science Program, which includes approximately 100 students from 12 area school districts - including Grosse Ile. The second year health science students, who can be seen around the hospital in their yellow scrub shirts and navy pants, provide services to many hospital and community activities.

While working throughout the hospital, the students are able to work side by side with health professionals as they do their jobs. Throughout the year, they develop practical skills and professionalism and walk away with experience, knowledge and a sense of accomplishment.

But they also give back to the hospital in significant ways.

During the past school year, the students have fundraised and

Photo courtesy of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital

Students in Wyandotte Public Schools’ Health Science Program hold some of the blankets they made by hand and donated to Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital’s palliative care program.

volunteered in different capacities, including holding sock/coat drives; a canned goods drive; acting as Dress for Success volunteers; staffing a hot cocoa table; holding a pretzel

fundraiser, penny war fundraiser and health science basket raffle, and participating in the Heart Walk basket raffle.

This year’s Health Science students

donated all of their fundraising proceeds back to the hospital and community, providing invaluable support, including: n 27 handmade fleece blankets for palliative care n Funds to Volunteer Services toward materials for fidget blankets and yarn for blankets and shawls n Sock aids for patients in rehabilitation n OB grief books n A monetary donation to the chapel for banners and care notes n Plush toys for the Emergency Department n Coloring pages and crayons for the ED and OB n Toiletries, including hairbrushes, shampoo and conditioner, for all the medical floors “Many thanks to these bright young people,” said Christine Cheetam, Health Occupations clinical instructor.

“We look forward to watching them flourish in their future healthcare careers.”

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Jeff Bouwman of Grosse Ile, 2019 Michigan MIddle School Science Teacher of the Year, and his Gibraltar district sixth- and seventh-graders release Chinook salmon they grew in classroom tanks from eggs into the Huron River. The project is part of the MDNR’s stock program.

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

By Paula Neuman Lorinda Beneteau was honored

by Grosse Ile Township recently for 25 years of employment with the community’s Department of Public Service.

She started in 1993 in the Building Department and continued to be promoted until she became DPS director. Along the way, she earned certifications from Citizen Planning Advanced Academy, Michigan Beneteau Public Services Institute and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Beneteau — whose hair color has earned her the nickname Redd — also earned state of Michigan water operator licenses S-1 through S-4.

She knows it’s a fairly unusual career path for a woman. She got into it in the 1980s due to unfortunate circumstances, ingenuity and enterprise.

“I became involved in public services when we were living in West Virginia,” said Beneteau, a 1978 graduate of Grosse Ile High School.

“My husband (Ted) and I lived in a small mountain community outside Harper’s Ferry. The gentleman who ran the water utility company where we lived fell on hard times and abandoned the wells.

“Soon, we started experiencing many water outages. I was becoming pretty frustrated with the whole scenario. Eventually, this led to a moratorium on any new building and a boil-water advisory until further notice. I knew we had to do something.

People need safe drinking water.”

The Beneteaus and another couple petitioned the Public Services Commission to take over the water utility.

“After many hours of public hearings, we were successful,” she said. “Westridge Waterworks Co. was born. I became its operator after receiving my license. Our goal was simple. We wanted to re-establish

faith in the water system — that it was reliable and safe to use — and we wanted the company to be solvent and operate on its own accord.”

Eventually, the Beneteaus moved back to Michigan.

“We wanted to be close to family again,” Beneteau said.

They bought Ted’s grandparents’ home in Southgate, where they live today. The newly retired couple plans to travel extensively around the country.

“I love to read, camp, spend time with our grandson and family,” she said. “I also love taking photographs of nature, people and places. I will be doing more of that!”

Being director of a DPS department can be stressful and thankless at times, but also very rewarding, Beneteau said.

“People generally don’t pay any attention to what we do until it affects them,” she said. “How often does one think about their water until they turn on the faucet and nothing comes out?

Or when the garbage isn’t collected on time? That’s when we hear from the public.

Through the years, the DPS has helped many people on a variety of issues.

“Water is the essence of life. It takes time, money, people and planning to ensure your public water system stays safe and operational to deliver high quality drinking water at affordable prices.”

Every day serving as DPS director is different, and she enjoyed the work variety and the challenges, she said.

But most of all, she liked the people she worked with.

“Working together, bouncing ideas off each other, makes it very interesting,” Beneteau said. “Each person in the department brings with them certain knowledge of their particular area of expertise. Each person is unique, and we enjoyed having fun together even outside of work.”

Replacing her will be Derek Thiel, a former Grosse Ile Airport manager most recently serving as city manager of Gibraltar.

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The Grosse Ile Police Department wants our citizens to be aware that there has been an increase of identity theft. The department would like everyone to help us as much as you can by being diligent in monitoring your credit.

If you discover that you have been the victim of identity theft you should contact the Grosse Ile Police Department to file a report.

The Federal Trade Commission has set up a site to further assist those who have been victims of Identity Theft at the following location https://www.ftc.gov/ faq/consumer-protection/report-identity-theft.

This site will give you answers on how to contact the major credit bureaus, and how to file a report with the FTC as well as answer some frequently asked questions.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER STEPS THAT MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM BEING A VICTIM 1. Don’t let mail sit in your mailbox. We don’t know for sure how all identities are being stolen, but it is believed that the culprits involved may be stealing mail.

2. Don’t put outgoing mail in your mailbox, take it to a US Postal Mailbox. The raised flag is a notification to suspects that you might have an outgoing check in the mail that would give them your name and bank account information.

3. Whenever possible, don’t give out your credit card information to anyone unless you know for sure who they are.

4. If you get a call from a family member asking for help, make sure you’re talking to the family member. Criminals have been calling in the middle of the night pretending to be grand-children in jail asking for bond money.

5. Monitor your credit. There are several low cost or free internet sites that will allow you to do this.

It’s also important to know that the three major credit bureaus have to provide you with a free copy of your credit history once a year. Don’t be afraid to ask for it.

6. If you shop online, we would suggest that

you use a credit card with a low balance. You can limit your daily spending through your credit card companies or, open a card with only a $500 balance just for online shopping.

7. Pay attention to the sites you’re using your credit card on. On the page you enter your information, make sure that the browser address starts with “https”. This means that the site is secure.

8. When you use your credit card at a store or restaurant make sure you get your card back.

The Grosse Ile Police Department will continue to do our best in identifying and criminally charging those individuals involved in stealing other people’s identity. With your help identity theft can be curtailed.

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Page 36 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

GROSSE ILE GRAND

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Congratulations, Dennis

Long time Grosse Ile Rowing treasurer Dennis Sitek recently received the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association lifetime achievement award for his commitment to supporting scholastic rowing.

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Cryderman is Rotary Citizen of the year Douglas Cryderman has been named the 2019 Grosse Ile Rotary Club Citizen of the Year.

The Grosse Ile Rotary accepts nominations for the award and it has been selecting a citizen of the year since 1961. Cryderman is the 59th honoree.

As part of the award, he was the Grand Marshall at this year’s IslandFest Parade.

The Grosse Ile Rotary is the first service club chartered on Grosse Ile, being formed back in 1947. Today there are about 40 members in the Grosse Ile club, but they are part of 1.2 million Roatrians worldwide.

The group, which meets Thursday evenings at Perdino’s, raises money through a series of yearly fundraisers and last year gave $63,000 back to the community.

Rotary has been around for more than 110 years, and its aims are to champion peace, fight illiteracy and poverty, promote clean water and sanitation and fight disease. It does this through programs that include: Rotary Peace Fellowships, Rotary Community Corps., Rotary Youth Leadership

Awards, Rotary Youth Exchanges, New Generation Service Exchanges, grants and scholarships.

The war on polio has been a major fight for the organization.

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for over 30 years, and its goal of ridding the earth of this disease is in sight.

Rotary started in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.

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GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 37

Two individual state titles highlight tennis season

By Hank Minckiewicz Coach John Shade’s Grosse Ile tennis programs have a long history of great tennis and great success.

And on June 1 at Kalamazoo College a couple more chapters were added as Jessica Shutt and Jenna Sheets won individual state titles.

At No. 2 singles Schutt, a junior and the top seed, defeated Shrine’s unseeded senior, Ann Gladstone, 6-1, 6-1. Gladstone stunned No. 2 seed, Sarah Schmidt of Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 6-4, 6-3, then dispatched No. 6-seeded Claire McCall of North Muskegon, 6-3, 7-6(6) before running into the Grosse Ile buzzsaw.

It was not the first time the two had faced off.

“I played (Gladstone) at regional, and then hearing about her big upset I was like she must have improved a lot in the last couple weeks,” Schutt said.

“I was really nervous.

“I was just hitting it deep, keeping at it, not letting her in.”

At No. 4 singles, second-seed Sheets, a senior, defeated Huron League rival Hannah Hodgson, a

junior from Monroe St Mary Catholic Central, who was the top seed, 7-5, 6-1.

Sheets said the championship was especially rewarding.

“In past years, I never made it past the quarterfinals,” she said.

“My mental game has improved. I’m a very relaxed player and never get mad at myself, so I think that’s definitely my strongest thing.”

At No. 1 singles, Grosse Ile’s Helena Formintin, the No. 5 seed, reached the semifinals before falling.

Formintin had a first-round bye and then won two matches before losing a tough match 6-4, 7-5 to No. 1 seed Melanie Zampardo of Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett. Zampardo lost in three sets in the finals to No. 1 seed Morea McNally of Clarkston Everest Collegiate.

Grosse Ile’s No. 4 doubles team also reached the semifinals of their flight. Grace Kuzmiak and Sarah Whitty, who were third-ranked in their flight, knocked off teams from Traverse City St. Francis and University Liggett before falling to Sarah El-Rassi

and Emma Helzman, the No. 2 seed from SMCC. Grosse Ile’s No. 3 singles player, Victoria Gargasoulas, won a match as did the No. 2 doubles team of Julia Bargardi and Natalie Cusumano.

In the team standings, Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart ran away with the title, scoring 31 points. SMCC was second with 23 and Grosse Ile was third with 21.

The Red Devils qualified for the D4 state finals by finishing second at the regional hosted by Ann Arbor Greenhills. Grosse Ile scored 12 points and finished six behind regional champ Monroe St.Mary Catholic Central.

The Devils were paced by Formentin, who won the No. 1 singles flight, and by Shutt, who was the champion at No. 2.

No. 4 singles player Sheets was a flight runnerup, as was the No. 4 doubles team of Kuzmiak and Whitty. No. 3 singles player Gargasoulas and the No. 3 doubles unit of Glovis and Dailey each added to the regional point total.

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GROSSE ILE GRAND Page 38 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

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June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 39

Grosse Ile golfers headed back to Division 3 finals

Thanks to regional match medalist junior Evan Johnson, the Grosse Ile boys golf team won the Division 3 state regional hosted by Ann Arbor Greenshill at Washtenaw Golf Course on May 30.

With the regional title in hand, the Red Devils qualified for the D3 state finals June 7-8 at Katke Golf Course on the campus of Ferris State University.

At regionals, Grosse Ile was led by Johnson, who fired a match-low 74, four strokes lower than the next lowest finisher.

Joining Johnson on the Grosse Ile scoresheet were fellow junior Evan Lemerand (82), freshman Anthony Naso (85) and seniors Evan Napolitan (90) and Cody Keenan (90).

Grosse Ile’s score was 331, three strokes clear of runner-up Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. The third place team was Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central (364).

Grosse Ile returned to the state finals hoping to erase some of the memories from last year when a poor first day wiped out the team’s chances of winning and the Red Devils finished third.

Lemerand and Keenan each competed at last Photo courtesy of GIHS year’s final with Lemarand’s second-day round Back row (from left) Julie Glore, Evan Lemerand, Evan Johnson, Joe Davis, Alex Melhorn, Charlie Butler; of 78 the best any Grosse Ile golfer posted in the (kneeling) Cody Keenan, Joey Boisture, Luke Taulbee, Evan Napolitan, Luke Champnella; (sitting) Ben two-day event.

Lazorka, Anthony Naso, Parker Miklos, Harrison Lee, Jacob Christie and Aidan Pullen.

Devils win eighth straight district crown

Grosse Ile beat is first two MHSAA district tournament foes by a combined 17-0. Wixom St. Catherine’s beat its first two rivals 22-0. But when the two met in the district championship game at Livonia Clarenceville on May 30, it was a different story.

There was only one goal scored and it belonged to Grosse Ile as the Devils posted a 1-0 victory and won their eighth consecutive district title.

After a scoreless first half, Grosse Ile broke the ice early in the second and then clamped down defensively on the Stars.

The only goal of the game came on a set play when Grosse Ile’s Lauren Naso drove a corner kick toward the St. Catherine’s net and Emmi Pinkowski knocked it home.

St. Catherine’s had chances

to tie the game, including a shot that directly hit the crossbar behind the Grosse Ile goalie, but the Devils, who are now undefeated in their last 11 games, weathered the storm and claimed the victory. Grosse Ile is now 16-2-4.

To reach the championship game, Grosse Ile dominated Dearborn Henry Ford 9-0 and then crushed host school Clarenceville 8-0. St. Catherine’s whipped Monroe Jefferson 14-0 and beat Canton Prep 8-0.

The state-ranked Devils were back at Clarenceville June 4 to face Warren Regina in a firstround regional game. DeltonKellogg and An Arbor Father Gabriel Richard are the other two teams in the region.

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The Commodore’s Ball

The Grosse Ile Yacht Club recently held its 85th Annual Commodore’s Ball.

Pictured are (from left) Lady Patti Duffett, Vice Commodore Todd Duffett, Lady Tamara Dust, Commodore Gary Dust, Lady Els Ferguson and Rear Commodore Jim Ferguson. The theme of this year’s ball was a Scottish country hunting manor, in honor of Commodore Dust’s Scottish heritage.

There was even an appearance by Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness monster.

GROSSE ILE GRAND

GROSSE ILE GRAND

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 41

Despite a comeback win over Riverview in its first game and a great pitching performance by Matthew Groat in the district championship game, the Grosse Ile Red Devils saw their season come to an end with a 2-0 loss to Trenton in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 baseball district hosted by Flat Rock.

By Hank Minckiewicz The tournament was supposed to be played Saturday, June 1, but because of predicted bad weather, the event was moved to Friday, May 31 and the championship game was played under the lights, which added to the drama of the contest.

The title game was scoreless until the sixth inning when a pair of errors opened to the door to the game’s only two runs.

Groat, a junior, worked six innings and allowed just three hits and fanned seven Trojans. But one of those hits - a soft fly to left field - came in the sixth after a dropped throw at second and a botched pick-off play left runners at second and third with no outs.

Groat nearly escaped the jam as he fanned back-to-back Trenton players, but before he could get completely out of trouble the soft single plated both runners.

It was Trenton’s only real threat of the game.

As well as he pitched, Groat deserved a better fate.

“It was tough,” said Grosse Ile coach Mario Garza. “It’s been like that all season. He pitched great all year, but one little thing here or there has hurt.

He has a 1-5 record, but he has an ERA of about 1.70. We didn’t give him a lot of support.”

Grosse Ile’s best scoring chance came fourth inning when Richardo Madrigal, who had two hits in the game, doubled with a man on first base.

Madrigal made it to second, but was called out when he apparently came off the bag at second. Justin Riggs then flew out to end the inning.

The Red Devils put two runners on base with two out in the fifth inning, but Zack Thompson grounded out to end that inning. Grosse Ile put more runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but could not get anyone home.

Tim Veres and Ty Garza will return for Grosse Ile in 2020

Grosse Ile had just two hits in the game, but had plenty of traffic on the bases as six Red Devils walked and two others reached base on errors.

Grosse Ile reached the district finals with a come-from-behind 3-2, eightinning win over Huron League rival Riverview. The Devils trailed 2-0 in the game, but rallied to tie it.

In the seventh inning, pitching ace junior Nick Chittum, who threw a strong game against the Bucs, came to the plate and slugged a long triple. One batter later he scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Groat.

The game was a classic pitcher’s duel between staff aces as Chittum took in Riverview’s Ryan Evina, but neither starter was on the hill at the end.

In the other district semifinal game, Trenton beat host Flat Rock 10-5.

Grosse Ile finished the season with a record of 11-13 and 6-8 in Huron League play. But Garza pointed out that the Devils were 5-3 in their last

league games, they have their top two pitchers returning and had three freshmen start throughout the year.

“We have a great chance to come back next year and really step up our level of competition,” he said.

With the win, Trenton advanced to the regional level of tournament play back at Flat Rock against the winner of the Summit Academy district.

SOFTBALL The Grosse Ile softball team’s stay in the MHSAA tournament was short and not-so-sweet and the Red Devils were dumped 7-1 by Trenton in their district opener.

Flat Rock clubbed Riverview 12-3 in the other district semifinal and then Flat Rock, which shared the Huron League championship with Carleton Airport this season, blanked Trenton 3-0 in the championship game.

Photos by Larry Caruso

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Grosse Ile falls to Trenton in baseball district final

Page 42 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

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Grosse Ile’s Marina Rensi was a regional champ in the 300 hurdles and qualified for the state finals.

Eight Red Devils qualify for state track finals Led by three-event qualifier Alisa Erickson, the Grosse Ile track team sent eight runners to the 2019 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 State Track Finals at Zeeland Stadium in Zeeland June 1.

At regionals, Erickson set a personal record of 11:43.58 and finished first in the 3,200 meters. She also qualified in the high jump and as part of the 4x800 relay team. Joining her on the relay team were Meghan Diaball, Hannah Fulmer and Marisa Swick.

That foursome won the event in 9:48.81.

Also qualifying for the Grosse Ile girls were Marina Rensi, who ran a personal best 47.62 in winning the 300 meter hurdles and Andi Fulmer, who ran a personal best 5:19.29 and finished second in the 1,600 meters.

Among the boys, Grosse Ile distance “Dynamic Duo” of James Gedis and Matthew Gravner were each state-meet qualifiers.

Gedris, who is headed to the University of Michi-

gan on a cross country scholarship, won the 3,200 meters in 9:37.41 and then ran a personal-best 4:21.83 in finishing second in the 1,600 meters.

At the state finals in Zeeland on June 1, Gedris ran third in the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:13.35. He finished behind champion Anthonly Hancock of Derborn Divine Child and second-place finisher Evan Bishop of Senior James Gedris East Grand Rapids.

Earlier this month, both the Grosse Ile boys and girls clinched Huron League championships.

The girls edged Milan 145-143 at the league meet on May 21 to wrap up their fourth consecutive league title. The Devils won six events at the meet.

Swick was a four-time winner, taking the 400 and 800 meters and running legs on the winning 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams. She was joined by Dieball, Andi Fulmer and Hannah Fulmer on the relay wins.

Erickson won the high jump and Andi Fulmer won the mile. Fulmer led a 1-2-3 sweep in that mile race with Dieball and Erickson following her across the finish line.

Just like the girls, the Grosse Ile boys edged Milan to win the league meet and the league title. The score between those rivals was 113.5-110.5.

Gedris won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and Gravner was second to him in the 1,600 and the 3,200. Will Davis was second in both the 200 and the long jump and third in the 100.

Photos by Larry Caruso

June 8 - July 10, 2019 • Page 43

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Page 44 • June 8 - July 10, 2019

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